Dubai, UAE: A Dubai-based doctor has found that traces of marijuana in urine was a common factor among patients who smoke medwakh (a popular pipe used to smoke ‘dokha’ tobacco).
Dr Manal Al Fahham, who works in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Al Garhoud Private Hospital, said she made the finding after testing the urine of patients who suffered from symptoms that include insomnia, depression and anxiety, to name a few.
“The patients were extremely surprised and shocked when they were informed that traces of marijuana were found in their urine. They strongly denied that they have taken any form of marijuana, saying they only smoke medwakh,” she said.
Talking to Gulf News about the findings, which was first reported by Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, Dr Manal said smoking medwakh was the one common factor among all the patients (aged between 20 to 40), in whose urine traces of marijuana were found.
“Out of 40 of my patients who took the urine test, we found traces of marijuana in 30 per cent of them. These were very small amounts and were not found in any other form of tests.”
Dr Manal said the traces of marijuana disappeared when the patients were tested again after they were asked to stop medwakh for a short period of time.
She also said when the patients were asked where they bought their dokha, they said they got it from small uncertified shops or from friends.
Dr Manal said she informed Dubai Police’s Anti-narcotic Department and the Department of Economic Development and that it is now the responsibility of the authorities to continue further investigations following her finding.
“The main issue is that these patients had no idea how they got marijuana in their system; they got it in their system unwittingly.”
Mohammad Lootah, Executive Director — Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection at the Department of Economic Development (DED), said a campaign has already started wherein samples from tobacco shops are being taken in for tests.
“We have already started taking samples from different shops that sell dokha and other forms of tobacco for testing and, based on the findings, action will be taken against the shops.”
Lootah said the DED will take action against shops found selling illegal material in their tobacco, as well as shops with impure tobacco, for example, wood shavings found in dokha or tobacco.
A total of 10 shops in Dubai were picked at random for testing so far and Lootah said the campaign is ongoing.
© Gulf News
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